I've had the dies for quite a while but never started. Wed. I headed for my LGS to buy some powder,bullets and primers. I was shocked to find that supplies are in short supply. I did get what I needed to start. I found a recipe and loaded up 5 rounds and then headed to the range to test them out. They performed great. The next morning I got up and loaded another 20. Loading for a rifle is a whole lot different than loading for a pistol. I suppose in time,things will get easier.

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The old gal is easy to reload and getting good results is an almost given if the components are correct.

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Keep your powder dry.

I must have 25 different 30/30 loads from 150gr down. Never came across one that would sight in. A lever 30/30 isn’t a match rifle anyway.

If you live on the east coast, the brass is more common and less expensive then west of the Mississippi. I also load 125 grain HP with BL-C(2) for my jeep gun - talk about fun!

Loved the ole “Thutty Thutty” when I hunted Whitetail back home in the Northeast...when I loaded 150 gr and 170 gr jacketed bullets, I reached for either IMR 3031 or H4895. IMR 3031 saw the most use and I liked it a lot with the 170 gr bullet.

I've been reloading for my .30-30's for over 50 years, and I've learned a few lessons through the Clinton and Obama shortages. The .30-30 bullets are not in the same class as many other .308 bullets of similar weight. They are a seasonal production, and when they are gone, they are way gone. And they don't come back when a few .30-30 fans run out of bullets, and the .308, .30-06, and .300 Magnum guys want their bizillion bullets.

Looking on line at my usual sources, there are supplies of a couple bullets from Sierra, Hornady, and Speer. If you want to shoot your .30-30, you better pull your wallet out and grab a couple boxes, now. Or you may not see any for a long time. Especially if Biden gets in, and decides American gun owners have too many guns and bullets.

The 30-30 comes into its own as a cast bullet cartridge. The limitations of pressure and bullet nose style play to the advantages of cast bullets.
And, you don't have to worry about being a "Townie" who needs his fancy "store bought" j-word bullets.

Just joshin' y'all!

Jim

I think the old 30-30 still holds the record for the most deer killed by a rifle.... ?
It was very popular in the 1800's back East and even mother could knock off a deer from the porch, if meat was getting low.

You will have many happy days ahead with just standard loads.

I too have a couple of 30-30's, A T/C contender carbine, and a Rem 788, that I rebarreled. I shoot exclusively cast bullets in these. You can load light plinking loads, up to full power factory equivalent loadings with cast bullets in this caliber. A $20 Lee mold, a bottle of Lee Liquid Alox tumble lube, and a box of gas checks, if you are loading over 1500 fps, is all you will need for years of shooting. You can buy ready mixed lead alloy, or use free scrap wheel weights for your bullet material. No more bullets to buy, you are now self sufficient.

Most lever 30-30's are good for 2-3 MOA accuracy, which cast bullets can easily equal or surpass, after some load development. Great for low cost practice, and introducing new shooters, with the reduced recoil.

I have a Winchester model 94 carbine, with the ladder & also Lyman tang sights. I use cast lead bullets with gas checks, the other day at 80 yds shot a 2 inch group, not bad for well worn rifle from 1923 & old eyes.

I agree with you that it is one heck of a rifle for shooting at 100 yards or less for deer if possible.

When I was sixteen and had good muscle tone, sharp eyes and no problem with the old iron sights, I would have fun trying to kill Boulders that I could spot, out at 200-250 yards.

Some days were better than others................

Good point Jim.
There are pretty good supplies of the Magnus cast bullets out there, .309/150gr & 170gr. The coated bullets from Missouri Bullets, .309/165gr are very good, and cost quite a bit less than jacketed, which are pretty pricey for tin cans and clay birds on the berm. The Missouri's are good out to at least 1800fps.

Or, if you are industrious, you can cast your own. (I'm not BTW )

I’ve been reloading 30/30 for over 30yrs. I try to keep every Remington-brass, primer and 170gr. Core-Lokt bullets. My old Marlin likes 170’s but can’t find the old scalloped bullets as a component anymore( good thing I have some squirreled away).

Powder wise it’s IMR 3031, amount being one of those number combos. If I do my part we’re lookin’ at @ 2” at a hunerd yards lol.

Haven’t tried cast yet-that’s what the Marlin in 35Rem or 444 will be for if I ever run out of j-words.

I have discovered that R-P .30-30 brass has a considerably longer reloading life expectancy than other headstamps. My propellants are 3031 and 4064. At one time I used Hercules Hi Vel #2 in my Model 94 with great success, but it is now long out of production. 3031 is fairly close to it in performance.

Hi Vel #2....wow, haven't heard that one in a while!
SR 4759 was another great one for 30-30, or any of the classic lever rounds.
I got an old supply too!

4759 is what I use in my 30-30's with cast. I bought up several kegs when I learned of it's planned obsolescence. 5744 is a good substitute.

I trim all my 30-30 brass, if you get a long one you'll collapse the shoulder when you crimp the bullet
SWCA 892

I cast for my 2 30-30's , a Marlin 336 and a Winchester 1894 (1948 model). I use the Lyman 311041 (173gr FP) mold for both . I have used a few different powders , IMR 3031 , IMR 4895 , IMR 4198 , IMR 4227 , Accurate 5744 and recently , just for fun tried 9.0 grs of Unique . They all worked fairly well with 5744 delivering the worst accuracy . The 9.0 grs of Unique surprised me how well it shot and the power it delivered . My favorite powders so far are 3031 , 4895 and the Unique load . I have read that Winchester 748 is an excellent choice . Might try it someday . Regards, Paul

Dug out my 94. Haven’t shot it since the 70’s. Never reloaded for it. Bought
dies, brass and some 160 grain FTX Bullets. I’ve got Varget, H4895, H335 and H380 on hand. Any thoughts.

I cut my metallic reloading teeth on the . 30-30 back in 1985 or 86. It is a gem to load for, you almost can't find a bad load, unless you try to turn it into a . 308 or a . 30-06, which it isn't.

Another nice thing about the . 30-30 is that it is a very easy cartridge to load with cast bullets. You can load them very light with pistol powders, or load them right up to equal jacketed bullet loads. Easy on both the wallet and the bore. You'll never wear out a barrel with cast.

I have been loading LVR powder with a 160gr FTX bullet and AA5744 with a 150gr and 170gr cast bullet. I don't care for the FTX load but I do like AA5744 with a 170gr cast bullet. My eyes are getting food so I'm using a 4X scope now. I get about 1.5 MOA @ 100 yards.

There are many good powders for the 30-30 including 4198, IMR3031, AA5744 and a bunch of pistol powders like 2400, Unique and others. Even the slower rifle powders work like Varget, 4895, W748 and more. Like said above, it's hard to find a bad load for the 30-30.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

When I went to the LGS I was shocked to see he was so low on his components. I grab his Hodgdon Annual Manual. His selection was limited. I grab some Benchmark powder, the bullets were 125 gr. HP/FN (all he had) and some Federal primers. With the "starting load" of 27,7 grains, that .30-30 was a tack driver. I let a friend of mine shoot it and he nailed everything he aimed at!!!! He had a grin on his face from ear-to ear !!! The rifle is a post 64 (late 92/early 94 DOB). He said he had "a old one he got used 25 years ago and never shot it. I shot him a offer to trade. He's going to get me the serial #. Here's hoping it's a "pre 64".

I started loading for my Model 94 with a Lee Loader and the Lee C309-170F bullet when Nixon was still Vice President. I used IMR-4895 'cause that's what scoop came with kit recommended.

SR-4759 came later, and is my favorite cast bullet powder in .30-30, .30-06, .375 H&H and 7x57 Mauser. Been buying whatever I find whenever I find it.

Loads with 110 gr. 30 cal. carbine bullets are good for cheap practice.

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DRB #2276

I have heard for years... Decades? That more deer were killed by 22lr than ALL other calibers... COMBINED!

Almost as many as killed by motor vehicles..?

Cheers!

If you're not ready to cast your own, try Rim Rock Bullets in Polson, Montana. They have a decent selection, and internet sales over $120 get free shipping.

I recently tried their 165 gr. Flat Point over 8 gr. Unique in my 94. Excellent results. In the neighborhood of 1200 FPS, and my groups averaged just under 1.5" at 50 yards. These are both 3-shot groups!

Oddly, my 10" Contender didn't care for this load, and key-holed half of them. I'll stick to Speer's 130 gr. HP for that one.

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Sometimes the accuracy of 30-30 rounds can be enhanced by exploiting the headspace on rim feature. Some dies act as sb dies, and can be backed off considerable while still allowing easy chambering, and getting the bullet ogee further forward.